John e



glatten tatrs 'stritt @frn E. TREAT, OF OXFGRD, MICHIGAN. -Lefam-S Parme No. 66,420, amd July 2, 1867.v

IMPROVEMENT IN EXTENSION FRUIT-LADDERS.,

dige Stimme referat tu in tlgrst ttttrs @anni nur hinting mit uf the time.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that JOHN E. TREAT, of Oxford, ingthe countyr of Oakland, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and improved Extension Fruit-Ladder; and I do hereby decl-.1re that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to Amake and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-s- Figure 1 is a side sectional view of my invention, taken in the line x 1f, tig. 2.-

Figure 2, a front view of the same.

Figure 3, a. detached perspective view of a, step pertaining to the same.

Similarle'tters of reference indicate likeparts;

This invention relates to a new and improved extension step-ladder designed more especially for picking fruit,and for4 general lhousehold purposes, the extension feature admitting of the device being used in many cases where theV ordinary step-ladders `cannot be employed. A

The invention consists in constructing the main portion of the ladder in suche. manner that its steps may always be adjusted in'a horizontal position, at whatever angle the ladder may be placed, and having the brace portion provided with rounds like an ordinary ladder, and attached to the main portion hy hinges or joints in such a way that it may he turned when required, and used as an extension to the main portion, and the whole, when not desired fr use, being capable of being folded snugly or compactly together, so as to monopolize but little room. i

The main portionof` the ladder vis constructed of four side pieces, a a', two at each side, between which the steps A are secured, said steps being provided :1t each end with two journals, 5 t, which vpass through the side pieces a a', and are allowed to turn freely therein. This mode of attaching the steps to the side pieces a a admits ofvthe former being adjusted in a horizontal position at whatever angle the main portion of the ladder may he placed, for the side pieces a a may be moved in a longitudinal directionrand they are secured at any desired point within the scope of their movement by means of a. pendent segment-rack', B, attached by a joint to the second step A from the bottom, and catching over the inner edge of the lowest step, (see tig. 1.) `The journals b of the steps A may be arranged in various Ways. Metal rods c may extend along under the front and rear ends of the steps A, and pass through cleats attached to the under surfaces of the same at their ends, the rods c being riveted at the outer sides of the sideA pieces a a; or the journals may be formed on metal bars UZX, secured to the under sides of the'steps near their ends, as shown clearly in'tig. 3i. Y' C represents the brace portion of the stepdadder, composed of two side pieces, e e, connected by rounds f like an ordinary ladder. This brace portion C is connected at its upper end by joints y to the upper parts of the side pieces a a ofthe main portion of the device, saidjoints being so constructed that the brace portion may be extended more or less, Vaccording to the angle or degree of inclination desired for the main portion, or turned up i'n line with the main portion, as shown in red in fig. 1, to form an extension for the same. The upper-most step A of the main portion of the ladder is made broader than the others in order to strengthen the device, and said'step is also made of such a width that it may tit between the side pieces e e ofthe brace portion when the latter is extended, and serve as an eiicient stay for the same, preventing it from swaying laterally, The side pieces a a of the main portion of the step-ladder also have rods fX ff` attached to them by jointsgx, said rods being pointed at their lower ends to penetrate the ground, and serve as stays or supports when the latter are required, said rod-s being capable of adjustment to suit any ariglc or degree of inclination in which the device may be placed. When the brace portionC is extended, as shown in red in Eg. 1, it may be held or retained in said position by a hook, h, at one or both sides ofthe main portion of the device, said hook or hooks catching over pins projecting from the'side pieces e of C. When not in use the'whole, that'is to say, the main and brace portions and the stay-rods may be compactly folded in contact.

Having thus described hay invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The hinged brace C, when arranged with the pieces a a', and steps A journalledv'thereto, in the manner and for the purpose herein speciiied.

JGHN ELMOR TREAT.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. LORD,

WM. E.S1T'rErT. 

